I used to leave mine uncovered, but this year I covered them since they will look better going into the Spring and not have to spend energy recovering before looking really good.

I agree. Thats the other thing I want to see. So far, the only real changes I noticed are the minor tip burn and slightly lighter green color.
Besides that, its been chugging along.

Chip

Just uncovered the winter protection from my two trachys. I used a sheer, white insolating blanket and then a second blanket over this. I only covered the trunk and left leaves fully exposed. On one plant, I put a set of Christmas lights around the trunk (under the blankets). Both seemed to pull through the winter very well. Leaf burn is minimal and spears are nice and green. Got to love these magnificent palms!

They really are amazing palms from the furry trunks to the strong stiff petioles and leaves the alpine kink in the trunk you get the feeling if you prepare them correctly and give them enough time to adapt there is almost nothing they cant survive within reason I wish there was a way to get climate data from the highest mountains where these survive,its already been shown in colorado that they have survived temp extremes of -10 to -15, I looked up darjeelings(mountain town in india)weather once during januaury and the temps were colder then here in s.e. Iowa some days, gibbons and spanner reported Trachycarpus latisectus grows outside a hotel there among other places this is another very cool(if not cold)var of trachycarpus!

I don't know if you are considering them in your area. Mine were container plants for a few years before I decided to take the plunge and planted them (only because they were too big for containers and would begin suffering in the summer in undersized pots). So, when I put them in the ground, they were not seedlings but about four feet tall. Granted the winter was fairly mild in the Mid-Atlantic, there still were days in low 20's with heavy winds, several ice storms and minimums of 11 F.. But they are looking really good. During the cold periods the leaves looked frozen and somewhat yellowish but now they are normal looking. Winter here has been very, very WET and it looks like they tolerated that very well. I ordered two more fortunei and also have two small wagerianus (which also overwintered very well without any protection).

njoasis thats awesome amazed they are tolerating the moisture this winter and no protection!very cool!! here in s.e. Iowa its been -5 and as low as -8 but it always "warmed"up at least above 0 within 36-48hrs not sure if they would handle that!will probably always need to at least be covered here in winter with some structure and greenhouse film to keep out excess water and wind I have 2 var of T.fortunei in the ground now and there looking good,planning on planting several var of T.waggys takil more fortunei manipur nanus C.cerifera and many cactus and succulents along with W.filibustas,L.chinensis(with more substantial protection)along with several others should be fun,when it WARMS up!!

Just reading that Trachys handle cold wet better than a lot of the other cold tolerant (but arid loving)palms. The storm track this year has meant very, very little snow for the Mid-Atlantic. All the record snows have been in the Mid-West and upper North East. Rainfall has been very heavy and we're expecting another round of flooding this Saturday. After fronts pass, it's been cold, sunny and dry. I did protect with them somewhat. I wrapped a sheer insulating cloth (from nursery) and then another blanket around that, but I only covered the trunk (not leaves). I will do this at least for a couple more winters before it is really established. I also have wagnerianus and did nothing for them and they look good. On the negative side, I did loose a Mediterranean fan (perhaps due to flooding conditions combined with subsequent freezes).

Very cool!any pics?love trachys they are such unique palms!Have you ever checked out site Growing palms in colorado springs usda zone 5b ? very informative!!!

Im sure my Trachys will be in snow tonight !

Yea I saw that Ark getting in on the snow!are you north of Little rock? I did not recall you mentioning where in ar you are located.Let me knew how much snow you get! Post a pic!!!